Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-13


motion easily. She managed to APP
pear young at fifty in fact, at that age
she did not appear to he more than
twenty. She certainly was very hand
some and captivating woman. Born in
Vienna seventy-fve years ago she fol-
lowed her elder sister on the stage and
soon became q popular ddnseuse. But
the gossips Of the day ascribed to her
much more important part in life than
mere stage butterfly 1t Is said that GER
tain great personages contrived inter
views between her and the Duke de
Reichstadt, son OF the Emperor Napo-
leon and Marie Louise, and that the ac-
quaintance ripened into intimacy.
PRETTY TROUPE OF CHILDREN.
In 1S48 there came to America mag
nificent troupe Of children. Their ages
ranged from five to fourteen, but most
of them were about ten years old. They
were forty IN number, and all pretty.
! Their like was never seen in their Ia
| bleaux and picturesque dancing. No pen
could describe their eyolutions and
artistic groupings. Fanny Prayer was
the best of the dancers. They made
triumphant tours in all parts of the
coEntry. and returned to Europe after
three years. winning golden opinions
and dollars. Nine. Wees was their pre-
ceptor and mentor, or tOrmentor, as the
girls called her, and was obliged to keep
sharp eye on the larger girls,
as two ran OF and married, and Fanny
Prayer came very near making a
match with Jimmy Robinson, the great
equestrian, but "Old JoDn" spoiled
their little game. The ballet now be-
came an institution. and two American
girls essayed in that line. One was the
daughter of an actor-Miss haywood.
She afterwards went to Paris and gave
evidence of great promise. She no
doubt would have gone to the top of the
| ladder, but she married and left the
stage for the quiet life of wife and
a mother. Mary Ann Lee next appeared,
and had great merit. She met with
much favor, but, having the misfortune
to be born in this country and not hav-
ing an unpronounceable name, and, be-
sides, being badly managed, she soon
passed into obscurity. But 1t was said
by veterans of the art that she was q
great artistic in her peculiar style-that
OF the French school of dancing.
NJ. SYLVAN AND HIS BRoGUE.
When Fanny Elssler came to America
she brought with her a natty little
fellow. He was her male dancer and
ballet-master His name appeared rs
NJ. Silvsin, but his real name was Sulli-
van, and he was the brother OF Barry
Sullivan. the tragedian. NJ Silvain
kept up his trick by never appearing to
understand the English language, al
though he spoke, when obliged to, with
brogue so thick it could be cut with a
knife. One night, after finishing q diff
cult figure, he stood in the usual attitude
with extended hands, as much as to say
to the audience "What do you think
Of that" and just at this moment Jack
Sweeney a friend from the "old dart, "
thinking to cheer him up. applauded to
the echo, at the same time shouting
Bravo, Tom Sullivan " much to the
disgust Of NJ. Silyain.
After Elssler's great success in this
country many dancers of more or less
note followed her. but none of the great
ones came. Lola Montez figured awhile,
but she was not Of much ability in the
dancing line, hut had, however, rare
dramatic talent. She had acquired
much notorety asthe Countess OF Lands
felt. but the excitement was Of short
duration. She died miserably in New
York in a charitable establishment. A
French lady named La Count came, but
failed to make al impression. Then a
remarkable woman appeared-Adelaide
McCord. for such was the family name
of Adah Isaacs Menken-who made her
first appearance in her native city, New
Orleans, in 1876. Her life would
read more like romance than truth
Her father, a native of Dublin, Ire
land. and physician by pro-
fession, died when bis daughter was very
young, leaving Adelaide and younger
sister to the care of the mother. Mrs.
McCord was Jewess-a Miss Isaacs.
The family was left in destitute circum-
stances and, if reports be true, either
from inclination or necessity (no doubt
the latter cause), the mother adopted
vicious life. The two girls, thrown upon
their own resources, followed the bent OF
their genius, and, as means OF susie
nance, made their first appearance at the
Gayeties, New Orleans under the man.
agement of Tom Placide, about 1916.
Adah's next step was in a circus tent of
Spencer Stokess, in St Louis She
proved failure as a dancer, and WAS
discharged after the first week of her en-
gagement. From here she rejoined her
mother in Memphis, who in the mean
while had made that city her home.
"NOBMITY AT HER FEET"
IN n little while after the show-bills
advertised her i'll her line of danseuse
at Yicksburg, Natchez, Nashville, and /.
other southern cities, in all of which 7
more or less success attended her efforts.
During this period she had time and
opportunity to visit New York, where
she was brought into sufficient intima- /
CIV with Charlotte Champion to acquire /
from that actress the knowledge neces- I.
sary to act Mazeppa. Miss Champion .
was filling the rOtc OF Byron's popular |
hero at the National Theatre. With quick /
perception and splendid physical grace
and activity Adah at once grasped the |
character, and from that moment /
her fortune was made, and her ambition |
found fit field for its exercise. Adah I
made a fortune, but it went as it came /
hurriedly. La London and Paris she I
had the nobility at her feet In Califor- /.
MIA she reaped a rich harvest in glory and .
coin. But Adah had many grieyous
faults, but we are all of us creatures of
circumstances. Why is it that a man
can live two lives. aud that a woman
Sense and natures easy fool must stand
or fall by one? The public nor press do !
not dilate upon the shortcomings of pro- 1
fessionsls OF the masculine gender. but /,
can always find flaws with the feminine |
one. at is pity that there should be
50 much difference betwi1t tweedledum !
and tweedledee.
In 1868 Jarrett and Palmer went over
to England and to rance with the view |
of bringing over the best ballet that
they could obtain. No expense was
spared. They collected superior COM
pany. Their principals were Stephani,
Betsy Regal, and Morlacchi They we're I
70 bova onaped af tho Acadnrnv of M,.;o